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Railway village tracks down groups

The National Railway Museum is preparing to appoint a group to revamp the County Durham Shildon Railway Village, it has emerged this week.

Industry sources suggest Casson Mann, Gerry Judah and Leicester-based design group Hayley Sharpe Design are among those shortlisted for the project.

According to NRM display development manager Suzanne LeBlanc, who would not comment on the groups involved, the project will encompass ‘interpretation and design’ of the site and both its new buildings and existing Grade II-listed Georgian facilities. The centrepiece of the village will be a 6000m2 building, currently under construction (artist impression pictured), which will house a major new exhibition area.

The groups were briefed to come up with ‘bold, innovative designs’ that would ‘interpret the site, the history of railways and Shildon and the main objects of the NRM’s collection within a conservation context’, LeBlanc adds.

She says the NRM was particularly keen for the groups to develop displays that would ‘challenge visitors to enter into debate and participate in the experience’.

The NRM hopes to appoint a group to the work ‘within the next few weeks’. Work is expected to be completed on the railway village by next May. It will re-open to the public in September 2004.